27 complaints reported

1997 Nissan Altima Air Bags

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
27
Crashes
17
Fires
0
Injuries
10

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Jan 2020 Crash Injury

I WAS HIT, REAR-ENDED, VERY HARD AND THE AIRBAG DEFINITELY SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN, STOPPED FOR AT LEAST 10 SECONDS WAITING FOR TRAFFIC TO CLEAR AND A CAR SLAMMED INTO THE BACK OF ME WITH NO ATTEMPT TO HIT THEIR BRAKES

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Apr 2020
Apr 2009 Crash Injury

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE AT A RED LIGHT ON NOVEMBER 5, 2008, THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE TRAVELED DOWN AN EMBANKMENT AND ROLLED OVER. SHE SUSTAINED INJURIES AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE NISSAN MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT THEY HAVE NOT RESPONDED IN OVER FOUR MONTHS. THE CONTACT WAS THE ONLY OCCUPANT IN THE VEHICLE AND SHE WAS WEARING HER SEAT BELT AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. UPDATED 05/20/09.*JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: May 2008
Apr 2005

COMPLAINT REGARDING THE REPAIRS OF THE AIR BAG SYSTEM ON THE 1997 NISSAN ALTIMA.*MR THE AIR BAG LIGHT FLASHED ON THE DASH. WHILE DOING INTERNET RESEARCH THE CONSUMER CAME ACROSS TWO SERVICE BULLETINS FOR AIR BAGS. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED SOMEONE ABOUT THESE SERVICE BULLETINS AND WAS TOLD THAT THE WORK COULD BE DONE ON THE VEHICLE UNTIL 12/31/04. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER PRIOR TO THIS DATE BUT THEY REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE FREE OF CHARGE. *NM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Oct 2004
Feb 2005

AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY BLINKS WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. DEALER REPLACED THE COMPLETE AIR BAG SYSTEM ON DRIVER SIDE. *AK THE PANEL WAS REPLACED AS WELL. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Feb 2004
Jan 2005

THE AIR BAG LIGHT ALL OF A SUDDEN STARTED BLINKING WHILE THE IGNITION IS ON. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID NEEDED NEW AIR BAG CONTROLLER. WHEN I GOT IN THE CAR THE LIGHT STOPPED FLASHING, I SPOKE WITH SERVICE REP AND HE SAID THAT THE LIGHT WILL COME ON AGAIN AND THEY HAVE A REPORT DETAILING THE CODE FROM THE COMPUTER. *NM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2004
Oct 2004 Crash Injury

ON 10-12-04 MY DAUGHTER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, WHERE SHE HAD FAILED TO STOP QUICK ENOUGH AT A RED LIGHT. THERE WHERE THREE CARS AHEAD OF HER AT THE RED LIGHT. SHE WAS GOING APPROX. 10 MILES PER HOUR AND HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF HER WHICH LEAD A CHAIN REACTION INVOLVING THE OTHER TWO CARS. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. SHE WAS RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE. SHE WAS TREATED AND RELEASED. THERE WAS NOT DAMAGE TO HER CAR AND LITTLE DAMAGE TO THE THE OTHERS CARS. THE POLICE AT THE SCENE QUESTIONED WHY THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AT SUCH A LOW SPEED. MY CONCERN AND QUESTION ARE THE SAME. WHY WOULD THE AIR BAGS DEPLOY AT SUCH A LOW SPEED AND PERHAPS CAUSE MORE TRAUMA AND INJURY. THE INSURANCE COMPANIES WILL BE INVESTIGATING THIS AS WELL.*AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Dec 2004
Nov 2003

FOIA FWD FM WEBMASTER REQUEST COPY OF ALL INFORMATION, DOCUMENTS, PHOTOS, DIAGRAMS, NOTES, CONSUMER COMPLAINTS TEST RESULTS, NHTSA FINDINGS FOR THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG ON THE 1997 NISSAN ALTIMA.*MR *CB *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 1901
Jun 2003

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT WILL FLASH ON AND OFF. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jun 2003
Apr 2003 Crash

WHILE WAITING FOR A RED LIGHT TO CHANGE TO A GREEN LIGHT, CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END AND SIDE IMPACT ACCIDENT. BOTH IMPACTS WERE ABOUT 35 TO 45 MPH, AND NEITHER OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS ISSUED. *PH *MR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Jan 2003

WHILE DRIVING, THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHTS STARTED FLICKERING. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT IS WAS RELATED TO A PART IN THE COMPUTER, THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED (PART UNKNOWN). TS THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHTS REMAIN TO FLICKERING. SCC

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Nov 2002
Dec 2002 Crash

WHILE TRAVELING AT 60 MPH, CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION WITH AN 18 WHEELER. CONSUMER STATES NONE OF THE FOUR AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. ALL FOUR PASSENGERS WERE INJURED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Dec 2002 Crash Injury

OWNER WAS DRIVIMG HIS 1997 NISSAN ALTIMA SE ON THE CENTER LANE ALONG MEADOWBROOK PARKWAY, LONG ISLAND, NY. THE BMW 7.4 ON THE RIGHT SIDE (FIRST LANE) MERGED INTO THE CENTER LANE AND MADE A SUDDEN BRAKE. OWNER OF THE NISSAN ALTIMA APPLIED A SUDDEN BRAKE BUT BECAUSE OF THE SHORT DISTANCE IN BETWEEN TWO CARS, THE ALTIMA HIT THE BMW ON THE REAR. BOTH CARS WERE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 40-45 MILES PER HOUR. BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS WERE NOT DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER, WHO IS 8 MONTH PREAGNANT, REQUIRED TO BE HOSPITALIZED FOR TWO DAYS. I WOULD LIKE TO NISSAN COMPANY TO CAREFULLY INVESTIGATE ON WHAT HAPPENED WHY THE AIRBAGS WERE NOT DEPLOYED DURING THE COLLISION.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Dec 2002
Jul 2002 Crash Injury

WHILE DRIVING 55MPH HIT CAR FROM BEHIND AND AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING INJURIES.*AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jul 2002
Jul 2002 Crash

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT BEEN INVOLVED ON A COLISION AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY WERE GOING TO CALL HIM BACK NEVER DID. TS

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Apr 2002

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH THEN ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN INTO THE CONSUMER HEAD ON AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. CONTACTED DEALER. NLM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Mar 2002
Sep 2001 Crash Injury

THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY DURING ACCIDENT CAUSING THE DRIVER TO SUSTAIN HEAD INJURY BY KNOCKING THE FRONT MIRROR OFF, APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THIS ACCIDENT THE AIR BAG SENSOR WAS REPLACED. *YH

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jul 2001
Jul 2001 Crash

MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL CUTS OFF ENGINE AND POWER. IF KEPT IN THE HIGHEST POSITION IT WILL START AND RUN. BUT IF ONE TRIES TO LOWER THE STEERING WHEEL, THE WHOLE CAR TURNS OFF. MOVING IT ALSO BLOWS THE IGNITION FUSE. OR THAT'S WHAT THE REPAIR MAN SAID. I AM FAIRLY SHORT AND FIND IT DIFFICULT TO DRIVE IT THIS WAY. ALSO I'M CONCERNED AS TO IF THE AIRBAG WERE TO EVER DEPLOY, IT IS NOW AIMED DIRECTLY AT MY HEAD. AS FOR THE ACCIDENT ON 1/1/1999 WE WERE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT WHEN WE WERE REAR ENDED AND RAMMED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF US. NEITHER OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED DURING OR AFTER THE INCIDENT.*AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Apr 2001
Jun 2001 Crash Injury

NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DURING FRONT END COLLISION, THE THREE OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. NLM

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jun 2000
Apr 2001

AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN BLINKING FOR A YEAR OR MORE. DEALER WILL NOT REPLACE AIR BAG SYSTEM AT THEIR COST. ONLY SOLUTION IS A TOTAL REPLACEMENT. WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. THERE WAS NO EXPLANATION WHAT CAUSED LIGHT TO BLINK.*AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 1998
Jul 2000 Crash

WE HAVE A VIDEO SHOWING CAR DAMAGE. CAR WAS TOTALLED BY INSURANCE COMPANY (GEICO) AND ADJUSTER IS AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYING. NISSAN DEALER CONTACTED AND LAUGHED AT US (JAMES WILLIAMS). THEY GAVE A 1-800-NISSAN TO COMPLAINT TO, THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT. PLEASE CONTACT US FOR A COPY OF VIDEO. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED IN SUMMARY. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jul 2000
Dec 1999

AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT IS ON AND WON'T GO OFF. CONSUMER THINKS THE AIR BAGS MIGHT DEPLOY WHILE DRIVING. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jul 1999
Aug 1999 Crash Injury

ON JULY 07 1999, I WAS PULLING OUT FROM A SIDE STREET ONTO A TWO LANE ROAD. AS I WAS COMPLETING MY TURN, AN SUV HAD CROSSED THE SOLID YELLOW LINE IN ATTEMPT TO GO AROUND ME IN THE WRONG LANE. AS A RESULT, MY 1997 NISSAN ALTIMA WAS HIT IN THE FRONT LEFT (NEARLY HEAD ON) AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. ESTIMATED AT 40-50 MPH. THE VEHICLE HAD APPROXIMATELY $9,000 DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END. NEITHER DRIVER SIDE OR PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I SUSTAINED A CERVICAL MYOFASCIAL (WHIPLASH) INJURY THAT STILL HAS NOT RESOLVED, AND THANK GOD MY CHILDREN WERE NOT INJURED BADLY. THE AUTO BODY TECHNICIAN AND INSURANCE ADJUSTER (USAA) STATED THAT WITHOUT A DOUBT, THE AIRBAGS WERE DEFECTIVE AND ABSOLUTELY SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. ANEVALUATION OF THE AIRBAGS IS PENDING.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jul 1999
Jan 1999 Crash Injury

VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND INVOLVED IN A SANDWICH CRASH, VEHICLE WAS HIT BY OTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING ABOUT 42 MPH, THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS. THE VEHILCE IS BEING REPAIRED. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Apr 1998
Dec 1998 Crash Injury

CONSUMER REARENDED A VEHICLE AT 45-50 MPH. UPON OF IMPACT, DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN. *AK.ET.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Incident: Jun 1998
Oct 1997 Crash

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN RIGHT SIDE FRONTAL CRASH AT 40 MPH, AND THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS. DEALER NOTED THAT AIRBAG WAS OPERATING PROPERLY, ACCORDING TO SPECS. *AK

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 1997 NISSAN ALTIMA, Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 1997 Nissan Altima has 27 Air Bags complaints on file. 17 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.